Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Phoenix North Canyon's Austin Jackson put family first and still realized football dream

NFL Draft 2020: First-round picks

Jordan Love listens on his headphones as he is drafted by the Green Bay Packers. NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft 2020: First-round picks

Jordan Love listens on his headphones as he is drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Chase Young, right, talks on a cell phone during the 2020 NFL Draft. Young was selected as the number two overall pick to the Washington Redskins. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft 2020: First-round picks

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Chase Young, right, talks on a cell phone during the 2020 NFL Draft. Young was selected as the number two overall pick to the Washington Redskins. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Justin Herbert holds his phone as he is selected number six overall to the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2020 Draft. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft 2020: First-round picks

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Justin Herbert holds his phone as he is selected number six overall to the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2020 Draft. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, C.J. Henderson talks on the phone during the 2020 NFL football draft Thursday, April 23, 2020. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Henderson in the first round of the NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft 2020: First-round picks

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, C.J. Henderson talks on the phone during the 2020 NFL football draft Thursday, April 23, 2020. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Henderson in the first round of the NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Henry Ruggs III gets ready to put on a Las Vegas Raiders cap after being selected by the team as the number twelve overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft 2020: First-round picks

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Henry Ruggs III gets ready to put on a Las Vegas Raiders cap after being selected by the team as the number twelve overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, K'Lavon Chaisson speaks on his cellphone as he holds his headphones in his lap during the NFL football draft Thursday, April 23, 2020. Chaisson was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the number twenty overall pick during the first round. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft 2020: First-round picks

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, K'Lavon Chaisson speaks on his cellphone as he holds his headphones in his lap during the NFL football draft Thursday, April 23, 2020. Chaisson was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the number twenty overall pick during the first round. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Jalen Reagor, center, reacts during the NFL football draft Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Waxahachie, Texas. Reagor was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the number twenty-one overall pick during the first round. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft 2020: First-round picks

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Jalen Reagor, center, reacts during the NFL football draft Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Waxahachie, Texas. Reagor was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the number twenty-one overall pick during the first round. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Cesar Ruiz, center, reacts after being drafted as the number twenty-four overall pick by the New Orleans Saints during the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday, April 23, 2020. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft 2020: First-round picks

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Cesar Ruiz, center, reacts after being drafted as the number twenty-four overall pick by the New Orleans Saints during the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday, April 23, 2020. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Brandon Aiyuk, second from right, is congratulated while watching the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Reno, Nev. The San Francisco 49er selected Aiyuk as the number twenty-five overall pick in the first round. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft 2020: First-round picks

Apr 23, 2020; In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Brandon Aiyuk, second from right, is congratulated while watching the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Reno, Nev. The San Francisco 49er selected Aiyuk as the number twenty-five overall pick in the first round. Mandatory Credit: NFL/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
NFL Handout Photo, Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:

Austin Jackson wasn't quite sure how a medical procedure last summer would affect his draft stock. But it didn't matter.

He knew what he needed to do. For him it was a matter of family first.

The junior left tackle from USC and Phoenix North Canyon High School didn't think twice. He underwent a procedure to donate bone marrow to younger sister Autumn, who has waged a lifelong battle with Diamond-Blackfan anemia — a rare genetic disorder that causes the bone marrow not to produce an adequate amount of red blood cells.

Autumn, a year and a half younger than Austin, had to rely on weekly blood transfusions. That is until she the bone marrow transplant, for which Austin was a perfect match. There were 12 criteria for the donor and Austin matched every one.

It has been quite the happy ending for all. Autumn is healthy and happy and was among the family members at Austin's side when he got word that he was selected with the 18th pick in the first round of Thursday's NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.

"I had to do it for her," Jackson said, talking to the media after his selection. "It's a big relief for all of us to know she is feeling so much better. She's been dealing with this her whole life. It feels good to be able to help.

Jackson (6-foot-6, 322-pounds) was the fifth offensive tackle to be selected and one of three picks the Dolphins had in the first round. The most notable was Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with whom Jackson will be tasked with protecting.

Jackson played in 39 games, starting 25 in his Trojan tenure. The junior year can be perhaps the most important when it comes to building a resume, especially for those considering leaving college early. Jackson got the blessing from USC coach Clay Helton to leave the team to prepare for the procedure to provide the bone marrow for his sibling.

Instead of working out with teammates in Los Angeles, he spent the hot summer months training at home in Arizona to avoid the risk of infection before his bone marrow extraction. He returned to the practice field in Los Angeles a month later but was not cleared to start lifting weights until five weeks into the season,

It wasn't until halfway through the season that he felt like he was back to full strength. Still, he had a good enough season to earn first-team All Pac-12 accolades for the Trojans (8-5), runner-up in the Pac-12 South to Utah.

Southern California defensive back Austin Jackson (73) in the first half during a game against Arizona.(Photo: Rick Scuteri, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Those that know Jackson are not surprised at the sacrifice he made for his sister or that he is among the select few players to hear their name called in the first round.

Jackson, who will turn 21 next month, was a three-sport standout in high school, excelling in track and basketball as well as football, all of which he played for four years. He still holds records in the discus and shot. Despite his size, he also ran a leg of the 4x100 relay, evidence of his agility and athleticism.

At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in February, Jackson registered a 5.07 in the 40-yard dash, a 31-inch vertical and a 115-inch broad jump — all strong numbers for a lineman.

When he started high school, basketball looked to be his favorite sport but Airabin Justin, an assistant coach and trainer that worked with Jackson in football and track, isn't surprised at how far his former athlete has come.

"You could definitely see his athletic ability," Justin said. "He had good footwork and I think a lot of that came from playing basketball. Kids don't play three sports anymore but he got something out of everyone of them.I doesn't surprise me at all to see where is is now.

"On top of it all, he is a great young man. Everybody just loved him - students, teachers, administrators, coaches. He works hard. He's humble. He is going to do great things.

The once-proud Dolphins are looking to bounce back from a 5-11 season. It remains to be seen if Tagovailoa earns the starting spot or it goes to former Cardinals No. 1 pick Josh Rosen.

Jackson has primarily played left tackle but has played right tackle as well as guard in the past. Miami is high on Jackson but isn't thinking too far ahead.

"We were trying to get good football players," coach Brian Flores said. "Left tackle, right tackle. At the end of the day we want to bring in good players to our team that will work and compete. These guys have never been in NFL locker room. We're going to take it day by day. There is a lot to learn but they all have great potential."

With his sister in good health now, Jackson can focus on the next step of his athletic career. He doesn't feel undue pressure to shine right away, not to mention protect his quarterback.

"There is no pressure at all," he said. "I'm glad to be part of a great team, a team that believed in me.I'm excited to go out with the guys and try and do something special."